<p>I currently attend UT-Austin and majoring in Government (aka Poli Sci). My career focus is definitely in the field of print journalism, and I don't intend on switching my major anytime soon. However, I am having a bit of trouble getting my foot in the door -- tried volunteering my services at the university newspaper, but they told me a resounding no and to come back next semester. I called and went to a couple of local publications to see if they had any positions open - they explicitly told me they would have preferred a student in the COM school or a journalism major. The last time I was on this forum (about a year ago) I remember there were quite few people who had worked/worked in the industry. Anyone have any tips for me, non-COM major, to getting a volunteer position? I'm going to definitely keep on trying... but is there anything I can do to keep from getting the same answer?</p>
<p>How about your hometown newspaper? And where we live there are tons of small newspapers which are really advertisement booklets with a small amount of copy, could try advertizing? Also, could try your local government, like parks department, like offer to write up their recreation guide for the season. Local government may be able to use your services for free.</p>
<p>Maybe the Texas Observer would be more welcoming to a political science major. It might help if you're a tad left-leaning. I don't know where it's published, and that certainly might affect how useful they could be to you.</p>
<p>Try writing thoughtful letters to the editor , or freelance op-ed/feature pieces for school, local or national newspapers. Another place to publish is your college's newsletters or magazines that go out to alumni and parents. Maybe you could volunteer to write copy for your school's public relations office? One goal should be to accummulate a file of clips of your writing as a "porfolio" to get your foot in the door somewhere.</p>
<p>UT has a large, well respected journalism program, and I would bet that their journalism students are the first in line for offers at both the campus newspaper and at Texas newspapers. </p>
<p>If you have excellent grammar skills, learn AP style (you can probably buy the stylebook at your campus bookstore), and offer to copyedit at the campus newspapers. While they may have an overabundance of reporters, it's very unlikely that they have an overabundance of copy editors. The same is true for professional newspapers, though they are unlikely to offer paid or unpaid internships to students without college newspaper experiences.</p>
<p>You'd be wise, too, to minor in journalism. Despite your not wanting to switch majors, I suggest that you rethink your position. Because UT's J School is large and excellent, their students will have an enormous advantage when it comes to jobs and internships. Decades ago, when I entered the journalism field, it was relatively easy to get jobs with small professional publications if one had simply a strong interest in the field and a college degree in any subject. Things have changed a lot since, and with the exception of graduates from places like Ivies that have excellent dailies but lack undergrad journalism majors, most media companies will hire as interns and entry level employees only students with undergrad journalism degrees plus extensive experience at campus media and at least one paid or unpaid professional internship in which the student did writing, reporting, photography, designing or editing, not go-fer work.</p>
<p>New York Times has a very competitive summer journalism institute</p>